Occupational and environmental human lead exposure in Brazil

M. M.B. Paoliello, E. M. De Capitani

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of data on assessment of exposure and adverse effects due to environmental and occupational lead exposure in Brazil. Epidemiological investigations on children lead exposure around industrial and mining areas have shown that lead contamination is an actual source of concern. Lead in gasoline has been phasing out since the 1980s, and it is now completely discontinued. The last lead mining and lead refining plant was closed in 1995, leaving residual environmental lead contamination which has recently been investigated using a multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, there are hundreds of small battery recycling plants and secondary smelting facilities all over the country, which produce focal urban areas of lead contamination. Current regulatory limits for workplace lead exposure have shown to be inadequate as safety limits according to a few studies carried out lately.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)288-297
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental Research
Volume103
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood lead levels
  • Brazil
  • Environmental exposure
  • Lead exposure
  • Occupational exposure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • General Environmental Science

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